California will spend $2.1 million in funding to research safer alternatives to the insecticide chlorpyrifos, the Department of Pesticide Regulation announced Monday. Chlorpyrifos is a controversial pesticide linked to developmental neurotoxicity in children, among other effects. The sale of chlorpyrifos is currently banned in California. Read more on Bloomberg Law

House and Senate Democrats will unveil legislation today that would allow the public to petition the EPA to immediately declare a pesticide “dangerous”, which would require expedited review by the EPA. The bill will be introduced in the Senate by Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and in the House by Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) Read more on… Read more »

Richardson International, a major Canadian grain processor will no longer accept glyphosate-treated oat crops starting next year. Another Canadian processor, Grain Millers, stopped accepting glyphosate treated crops in 2015. Glyphosate is the main ingredient in Monsanto’s controversial Roundup herbicide. Bayer, which now owns Monsanto, recently set aside $10 billion dollars to resolve the many lawsuits… Read more »

Early this month, Thailand passed a ban on two pesticides, paraquat and chlorpyrifos. This triggered another regulation banning foodstuffs with trace amounts of either chemical. The United States and Brazil have now lodged separate protests with Thailand over this ban, describing the move as “restrictive” and “serious”, with the potential to damage key agricultural exports…. Read more »

Registration for the 2020 AppleTalk season is now open!  AppleTalk is a weekly conference call for sustainable and organic apple growers that discusses current challenges in insect, disease, weed, and nutrient management from green tip to harvest.  Calls take place on Tuesday’s from 8:00-9:00am CDT.  Our first call of the season will be on Tuesday,… Read more »

A call to lift the recent European ban on Chlorpyrifos, a controversial neurotoxic insecticide, for the control of stinkbugs in southern Europe has been rejected by the European Commission. Read more IEG Policy.

On March 20th, the Maryland General Assembly decided on a partial ban on chlorpyrifos, mostly phasing it out in the state by the end of 2020, and entirely ending its use by 2021. Chlorpyrifos is a controversial, neurotoxic pesticide that has become the frequent target of legislation meant to protect children, consumers and farm workers…. Read more »

Seed treatments are widely used in corn, soybean and cotton, and to a lesser extent in wheat. However, there are a lack of accurate, publically available data on seed treatment usage, which makes it difficult for researchers, farmers and regulators to understand the usage, balance costs and benefits, and assess environmental impacts including adverse effects… Read more »

The invasive Cactus moth, previously limited to Cuba, Florida and Louisiana has now become established and is spreading in Texas. The moth appears to have jumped over the Houston area into Brazoria County and is now established deep into the south of the state. The moth is feeding on prickly pear, a wild cactus consumed… Read more »

Yesterday, Field to Market released a report co-authored by the IPM Institute on Trends in Pest Management in U.S Agriculture. The report analyzes barriers and opportunities around the implementation of responsible and sustainable pest management across food and fiber value chains. The IPM Institute is part of Field to Market’s Science Advisory Council, providing consult… Read more »